Have you recently been involved in a motor vehicle accident? If so, your neck might be feeling a bit sore or stiff. This usually happens when the neck quickly moves back and forth during impact. This can lead to a sprain of the cervical ligament, which is often referred to as whiplash. What is whiplash like, and why do you need to get it treated as quickly as possible? Learn more about what might happen if you do not get car accident whiplash treated quickly following a motor vehicle accident.
What Is Car Accident Whiplash?
Whiplash is the colloquial name used to describe a cervical ligament sprain in the neck. When you are involved in an auto accident, the rapid changes in momentum can cause your neck to move jerkily from side to side or up and down. When this happens, it can “shock” your neck ligaments, causing them to stiffen up.
If you have developed whiplash in a motor vehicle accident, there are several symptoms you may notice. These include:
- You might have a difficult time turning your head from side to side.
- You may have a difficult time reading a book or looking at your phone.
- You could find it difficult to get back behind the wheel of a car again because you cannot adequately turn your head to assess your surroundings.
- The pain you have in your neck could also keep you up at night, making it hard for you to sleep well.
Because of this, you need to work with someone who has experience dealing with car accident whiplash. Even though you may feel like you will get better on your own, it is always better to get whiplash treated by a professional. What are some of the reasons why you have to get this treated as quickly as possible?
What Happens if You Don’t Get Whiplash Treated?
Even though the discomfort you feel with whiplash could be significant, it is only going to get worse if you do not get this treated as quickly as possible. There are several significant consequences you may notice if you do not get whiplash treated appropriately. These include:
Trouble Returning To Work or School
One of the first problems you may notice if you do not get whiplash treated as quickly as possible is that it could make it hard for you to return to work or school. You may not realize just how much you use your neck during the course of the day. The stiffness and soreness in your neck could make it difficult for you to concentrate on your duties at work. It could also make it hard for you to pay attention during class. If you want to maximize your performance and make it easier to pay attention, you must get whiplash treated by a professional. Do not delay the recovery process.
A Loss of Neck Mobility
You need to maximize the range of motion in your neck. The only way you will do this is if you address a sprain of the cervical ligaments. If you do not get whiplash treated, severe inflammation can develop in the muscles. This can cause the sensitivity in your neck to worsen. Gradually, you may find it hard to move your neck and head at all. With the appropriate treatment, you should be able to restore your flexibility and range of motion in your neck. If you put off this treatment process, the loss of mobility you have in your neck could become permanent.
The Development of Chronic Pain
Furthermore, chronic whiplash could lead to the development of chronic pain. For example, if you have a sprain of the ligaments in your neck, it could pull the vertebrae out of alignment. As a result, you could exert more pressure on the nerves as they leave your neck and pass into the other areas of your body. You might even notice shooting pains start to travel from your neck into your arms and shoulders. If you want to prevent this issue from happening, you need to get car whiplash treated as quickly as possible.
Recurring Headaches and Migraines
You may even start to suffer from recurring headaches and migraines. When you have a sprain of the ligaments in your neck, the other parts of your back and neck are going to be pulled out of alignment as well. The ligaments could exert more force on the muscles in your scalp, and they could lead to issues involving the skull. For example, the muscles might be pulled tight against the base of your skull, leading to a tension headache.
Or, you may have issues with the flow of signals between your vertebrae and your brain, leading to the development of migraine headaches. If you want to avoid this complication, you need to get your whiplash treated as quickly as possible.
Possible Disc and Vertebral Issues in the Back
Speaking of alignment issues, you may notice disc and vertebral issues in your back as well. If your cervical ligaments are not in the right location, you could develop degenerative disc disease. This could make it easier for you to suffer a herniated disc in the future. You might notice weakness, numbness, or pain in your back. If you do not address these alignment concerns, you could suffer serious health complications down the road.
Fortunately, these are all complications that can be addressed by a trained health professional. Make sure you work with a chiropractor who can help you quickly and efficiently address car accident whiplash. That way, you can recover as quickly as possible.
Rely on Doctor Wagner To Treat Your Whiplash
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident in Florida, then you need to reach out to Doctor Wagner. Even if you have been to the emergency room, you still need to complete the recovery process by visiting a local chiropractor. We have the training and experience necessary to help you following a motor vehicle accident. This includes whiplash, which is one of the most common injuries people suffer in a motor vehicle accident.
We will work with you personally, customizing our treatment options to meet your needs. That way, we can help you prevent the development of complications, treat chronic discomfort, and restore your range of motion. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment with a member of our team. It would be our pleasure to work with you and treat your neck pain following a car accident.